Shipping container



Sept 19, 1944- J. B. ARBUTHNlo-r SHIPPING CON'IAINER Filed NOV. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l A lvl-L94 INVENToR.

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Sept. 19, 1944- .1. B. ARBu'rHNo-r SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 14, 1942 lINVENTOR. W mr,

BY /M Patented sept. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE z,sss,s14

SHIPPING CONTAINER Joseph B. Arbuthnot, Brentwood, Pa. Application November' 14, 1942, serial No. 465,594

comms. (c1. 'zza-2s) 'I'his invention relates to new and useful improvements in packing cases or shipping containers, and it is among the objects thereof to provide a container oi' corrugated cardboard or similar lightweight material which shall be inexpensive and rugged and so constructed that the portion thereof which is the base for assembly and packing constitutes the lid or cover.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide a shipping container consisting of three parts that'are mechanically interlocked by the act of assembling them.v

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shipping container having a plain cover or lid that will not be marred when the container is opened and provides a large plain printing surface.

These and other objects oi! the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part -V hereof in which like reference characters designate like 'parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof a blank cut out 'to form interlocking side' flanges and flaps in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a top plan view of the blank of Fig. 1 with the side flanges turned over; l

Fig. 3 a similar view with the side and end ilangesfolded to their upright position; 'h

Fig. 4 a top plan view illustrating the interlocking of the side ilanges by the folding flaps:

Fig. 5 a verticalcross-sectional view taken along the lines 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 a similar view taken along the line 6-B, Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 a view in perspective of the folded tray;

Fig. 8 a View in' perspective of a container body; Fig. 9 a view in perspective of a collar;

. Fig. 10 ari exploded view of the tray, the body portion and collar which constitutes the three elements -of the container assembly;

Fig. 11 a vertical section partially broken away of the assembled container; and

Fig. 12 an end elevational View of the assembled and closed container. f

With reference to Figs. l to '7 of the drawings,

vthe structure therein illustrated comprises a naps I 6 will stand vertically, as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 illustrates the completed tray ready for assembly with the main body and collar of the container.

In Fig. 8 the numeral I1 designates a body portion of corrugated material of a Adimension to fit the inner dimensions of the flanges 6, 1, I2 and I3 of the tray of Fig. 7. The end walls are provided with slots I8 spaced from the bottom edge so that the bottom of the slot will be. at the level of the top edge of vthe flanges I2 and I3 when the body is placed in the tray.` The bottom of the body I1 is opened and the top is provided with cover aps I clearly shown in Fig. 10.

numeral 23 having slots 24 in the enclA walls thereof spaced from the bottom edge to the level of the tray flanges I2 and I3. 'I'he tray 8, the body I 'I and the collar 23 are assembled as shown in Fig. 10 by placing the body I'I in the tray to seat on the bottom thereof.

The upstanding flaps are then inserted through the end slots I8 as shown in Fig. 11 and the col=I lar 23 is pressed downward to displace the ,flaps I8 against the walls of the body I1 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1l. When the collar 23 is forced down on the lugs I6 and seated on with the lug I3 and its frictional the bottom of the tray I, the tray is mechanically interlocked with the main body I1 and the collar 23 is snugly held. by its crimping engagement contact with the walls of the body I1.

'Ihe container is thn ready for packing and the cover flaps I9, 20, 2| and 22 are folded over as shown in Fig. 8, and sealed by staples or tape. The container is then turned upside down as shown in Fig. 12 and the tray I .becomes the lid or cover of the container, which is sealed and locked. To open the Icontainer it is only necessary to cut through oneof the lugs I8 to lift one end of the-cover, which remains hinged on the un-cut lug I8 at .the opposite end.

This is especially practical ifthe container is used for shipping fruit, such asapples. which is inspected in transit. Because of the construc- 9, 20, 2| and 22, more `.Fig. 9 illustrates a collar designated by the tion of the cover, the top 25 makes a desirable printing surface which is not destroyed or multilated by the opening of the cover.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that a shipping container made in accordance therewith provides a strpng durable interlocked construction which may be produced in any square. or otherrectangular, shapes.

Such containers may be employed for a great many uses and are especially adapted for packing and shipping fruit, eggs, canned goods and the like. The slots in the end walls of the container provide finger grips for handling and the shape of the containers permits of compact storing and-shipping.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modications may be made in the details of construction or that the containers may be made of other materials than herein` specified without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A container of the type described comprising a blank sheet of material having parallel slots spaced from opposite ends thereof and having the sides bent at right angles, the ends of the blank being slit to form integral aps, some of which are bent around inturned ends ci' the sides and interlocked with the slots of the blank to constitute a self sustaining tray having flanged sides with integral naps, a main container body seated in said tray having slots for receiving some oLthe flaps of the tray, an'dacollar disposed within said main body, said collar being of the inner dimensions of said main container for displacing said iiaps downwardly when seated in Vsaid tray to interlock the tray with the body of the container. said body having side and end aps which when folded hold the collar in the container and close the same to form the bottom of the container.

2. A container of the type described comprising a blank of sheet material having parallel slots spaced from opposite ends thereof and having the sides bent at right angles, the ends of the blank being slit to form integral flaps, some of which are bent around in-turned ends of the sides and interlocked with the slots of the blank to constitute a self-sustaining tray-shaped element, a main container body seated in said tray within the ange thereof, said body having slots at the edge of the tray flange for receiving some of the integral flaps of the tray, and a collar disposed within the body to reenforce the side walls thereof, said collar displacing the tray flaps against the walls of the body to interlock the tray and body, and said main container body having cover iiaps for closing the open end of the 30 container when packed.

JOSEPH B. ARBUTHNOT. 

